Preparation of metals for chemical uses



Jam W1 Cf-A. KRAUS ET AL PREPARATION O METALS FOR CHEMICAL USES Filed. April 5, 1925 INVENTORS Baa-val W 6% MWM A TTORN tlti ti l titl Patented den, 1, W2

teat-ate i OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AS-

DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PREPARATION OF METALS FOR CHEMICAL USES.

Application filed April 5,

This invention relates to the preparation of metals for chemical uses, and will be fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which represents semi-diagrammatically a form of apparatus contemplated in the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character 1 designates a receptacle suitably heated, as for instance by gas-burners 2, and having a stirring device 3. The top of the receptacle is closed and is provided with a removable man-head cover, 4 and an auxiliary charger 5 is joined by a convenient connection. From the bottom an outlet controlled by a valve 6 leads to a distributor chamber 7, the bottom plate of which has perforations opening into a tower 8. A jacket 9 surrounds the tower, and inlet and outlet connections 10, 11 for cooling water are provided. I

Metal to be treated, for example lead or tin, is introduced, already molten or not as desired, into the receptacle 1 by way of the man-head 4. The air is driven out by a current of inert gas, for instance nitrogen, introduced by a pipe as at 12, surplus leaving by a pipe 13. .4 calculated charge of a highly electropositive metal, for example sodium, is now supplied from the charger 5;, having been melted therein by a steam jacket 14 and maintained out of contact with air by an inert gas, as nitrogen introduced by a pipe 15, surplus leaving by pipe 16. The proportions of the metals will depend upon the particular alloy desired. In the case of tin, an alloy for instance containing 86% of tin and 14% of sodium may be made, or in the case of lead, an alloy of 90% lead and 10% sodium.

The molten metals are stirred by the stirring device 3 and having been maintained at the necessary temperature until thoroughly alloyed, the valve 6 is ready to be opened. The chamber 7 and the tower 8 having been supplied with nitrogen or other suitable inert gas from pipe 17 surplus flowing off by pipe 1923. Serial No. 630,090,

Although the invention has been described by reference to certain specific details, it will be understood that this is illustrative and not limitative; and changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described, which comprises a receptacle, means for heating the receptacle, stirring means in said receptacle, an auxiliary charger connected to said receptacle, means for heating said charger, a valve-controlled outlet from the receptacle, a distributor-chamber having a perforated bottom-plate and arranged to receive material from said outlet, a tower under said plate, means for cooling the tower, and means for supplying an inert atmosphere to the receptacle, the auxiliary charger, the distributor and the tower.

2. Apparatus of the character described,

which comprises a receptacle, means for heating the receptacle, stirring means in said receptacle, an auxiliary charger connected to said receptacle, a distributor draining said receptacle and having a perforated bottomplate, a tower under said bottom-plate, and means for supplying an inert atmosphere to the receptacle, the auxiliary charger, the distributor and the tower. Y

3. Apparatus of the character described, h comprises a receptacle, means for heatlng the receptacle, stirring means in said receptacle, a distributor having a perforated bottom-plate, a tower under said bottomplate, and means for supplying an inert atmosphere to the receptacle, the distributor and the tower.

' 4. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of areceptacle, means for heating the receptacle, a perforated d'istributor plate arranged to receive material from said receptacle, a tower under said plate, and means for supplying an inert atmosphere to the receptacle and tower.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a receptacle for holding a molten alloy, means for receiving molten alloy from the receptacle and for dividing the alloy into droplets, a passageway arranged for receiving the droplets and for cooling the same, and means for supplying an inert atmosphere throughout the apparatus and in contact with the alloy.

CHARLES A. KRAUS.

QONBAL 1 A I 

